Monday, June 13, 2022
9:00 AM
City of Fresno
2600 Fresno Street
Fresno, CA 93721
www.fresno.gov
Council Chambers (In Person And/Or Electronic)
City Council
President - Nelson Esparza
Vice President - Tyler Maxwell
Councilmembers:
Esmeralda Z. Soria, Mike Karbassi, Miguel Angel Arias, Luis Chavez, Garry Bredefeld
City Manager - Georgeanne A. White
Interim City Attorney - Rina Gonzales
City Clerk - Todd Stermer, CMC
Meeting Minutes - Final
Budget Hearings - Commencing on June 13, 2022, the budget hearings will be considered one continuous meeting.
June 13, 2022City Council Meeting Minutes - Final
The City Council for the City of Fresno convened in budget hearing session on June 13, 2022, at 9:00 A.M.
9:08 A.M. ROLL CALL
Council President Nelson Esparza
Vice President Tyler Maxwell
Councilmember Esmeralda Z. Soria
Councilmember Mike Karbassi
Councilmember Miguel Angel Arias
Councilmember Luis Chavez
Councilmember Garry Bredefeld
Present: 7 -
Invocation
Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilmember Arias.
APPROVE AGENDA
Council President Esparza and Interim City Attorney Rina announced the budget hearing procedures.
AGENDA APPROVED
On motion of Councilmember Soria, seconded by Councilmember Karbassi, the above agenda was APPROVED. The motion carried by the following vote:
Aye: Esparza, Maxwell, Soria, Karbassi, Arias, Chavez and Bredefeld
7 -
Monday, June 13, 2022 - 9:00 A.M.
ID 22-959 General Fund Overview by Budget and Management Studies Division Budget Manager Fierro presented a brief overview of the General Fund for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration. Upon call, there was no public comment.
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING GENERAL
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FUND OVERVIEW:
Councilmember Soria requested information on the projections from Muni Services for 2018, 2019, and 2020 sales tax.
Councilmember Karbassi requested the Rebuild Fresno items from the Fiscal Year 2022 budget and to provide a comprehensive list with updates as to funding and item status and a heat map to show where revenues are coming from regarding room tax, sale tax, property tax and business tax. He would like to see a map similar to the highest needs PARCs map.
Councilmember Arias requested the following information from the administration: 1. The amount of positions funded in 2020, 2021, 2022, and the proposed 2023; 2. He requested positions be identified clearly in the City Attorney's Office as "City Attorney" and "Code Enforcement"; 3. He would like to know if the City of Fresno and the County of Fresno Visitors Bureau receives or does not receive a percentage of the room taxes and if they do, what are they doing for it; 4. He would like to know which fund and department for public benefit is the cannabis 10% set aside for, and lastly, he would like more detail information on the internal and external loans for the City of Fresno's Animal Center.
Councilmember Chavez would like to know if Muni Services feels current inflation will impact consumer spending and sales tax and why the City of Fresno’s property tax is much lower than other cities.
Council President Esparza requested to see the percentage decrease in revenues for the last four economic downturns and would like an explanation how much of a decrease in each revenue source.
ID 22-960 Fire Department
Fire Chief Donis presented a brief overview of the Fire Department budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Lisa City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 3
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Flores and Brandi Nuse-Villegas.
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING FIRE
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Councilmember Soria requested the following information: 1. Is the budget proposing any new firefighter positions in addition to the ones being funded by the SAFER grant that was approved last year; 2. What happens if we do not get the SAFER grant, is there a contingency plan to cover the cost of proposed positions; 3. Is the money needed for construction of Fire Station 12 included in the budget; 4. What is the amount needed to complete the entire project of Fire Station 12 and will we have shovel underground by the end of the year, and; what is the plan for the station we are moving from.
Councilmember Arias requested information on how much money and space is needed to build a fire station in the South industrial triangle City Council recessed at 5:23 P.M. and returned at 5:44 P.M.
THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS MADE DURING BUDGET HEARINGS:
Councilmember Soria motioned to identify funding to begin construction on fire station 12 (Ashlan and Valentine). Vice President Maxwell seconded the motion.
ID 22-962 Finance Department
Finance Controller Lima presented a brief overview of the Finance Department budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Marisa Moraza, Lisa Flores, Brandi Nuse-Villegas, Kimberly McCoy, and Karla Martinez.
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING FINANCE
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
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Councilmember Soria requested a breakdown of the General Fund account lines 55304 (Professional Services non-consulting) and account 53402 (Specialized Services).
Councilmember Arias requested the equation for Amazon, GAP, and ULTA deals, he would like to know how much we are planning to reimburse those companies, how much has been reimbursed to them to date and what is the funding source.
Councilmember Bredefeld requested an economic analysis on what has been gained from the Amazon, GAP, and ULTA deals and jobs.
Vice President Maxwell requested more information on the Amazon rebate equation and how it was calculated.
Council President Esparza left the meeting at 4:32 P.M.
THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING BUDGET
HEARINGS:
Councilmember Arias motioned to appropriate $150,000 in ARPA funds to conduct audits. Vice President Maxwell seconded the motion.
ID 22-961 Convention Center / Stadium
The above budget presentation was continued to June 15, 2022.
TABLED
ID 22-963 Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services (PARCS) PARCs Director Aguirre presented the Parks, After School, Recreation and Community Services Department budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Gabriel Lozano, Pedro Navarro Cruz, Jose Trinidad, Marisa Morza, Shaq Moseley, Brenda Quispe, Kimberly McCoy, Eric Payne, Kiel Lopez-Schmidt, Fidel Chavez, Hashid Kasama, Lisa Flores, Brandi Nuse-Villegas, Ruben City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 5
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Espinoza, Simon Bisell, Glenda Jackson, Karla Martinez, Alexandra Alvarado, Stacy Trinidad, Anna Wells, and Aaron Foster.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
City Council recessed for lunch at 12:07 P.M. and returned from lunch at 1:33 P.M.
Councilmember Chavez left the meeting at 2:40 P.M.
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING PARCS
DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Councilmember Soria requested more information on the following: 1. A breakdown of where special revenue is coming from; 2. The time frame to patch the floor at Quigley Park and requested the accessible swing be replaced at Inspiration Park, and lastly, 3. She would like to know what makes up the increase in contract construction and would like a list of capital projects.
Councilmember Arias requested the following information: 1. He would like a detailed breakdown of how the funding for community centers will be used and he would like to see programming available to the community; 2.
Information on the operational agreement for Storyland and Playland; 3. On additional services this budget proposes to provide for the Senior Program and Youth Program and how much is being invested specifically through Measure P and General Fund; and the revenue generated by the City from parking at Regional Parks and what it would cost to collect those fees.
Vice President Maxwell requested more information on the following: 1.
What percentage of projected Measure P funds by bucket would be allocated towards personnel costs if the proposed positions were approved;
2. Where is the 1,000 Tree initiative's annual $50,000 for trees/parks, youth jobs housed, and how will the program be implemented; 3. He would like more information on the QR code reservation improvements, the platforms, and the timeline it will be complete, and lastly, he requested an outline of the incomplete and unfunded PARCs projects for Fiscal Year 2022.
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Council President Esparza requested the cost for running the Senior Fitness Program and if it will be year around.
THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING BUDGET
HEARINGS:
Vice President Maxwell motioned to allocate the following: 1. $200,000 for new bleachers at Cary Park, 2. Funding for new goal posts and nets at the hockey rink at Cary Park, 3. Funding for the design phase of El Dorado Park, 4. Funding for faucets and a restroom at Large Park, 5. Funding for parking lot lighting improvements at Reedy Park (Discovery Center), 6.
Funding for a tot lot at University Park, similar to one at Tollhouse Park, 7. $30,000 for a monument sign at University Park, 8. $150,000 for a tot lot shade structure at Vinland Park, 9. $80,000 for restroom privacy upgrades at Vinland Park, 10. Funding for a dedicated pickle ball court at Vinland Park,
11. $300,000 for a youth activity fee waiver/voucher program, and 12. $500,000 for major corridor improvements and beautification efforts in District 4. Councilmember Soria seconded the motion.
Councilmember Bredefeld motioned to direct the City Manager and City Attorney to negotiate agreement(s) with FMFCD specifically to develop flood control basins into community and neighborhood parks throughout the City and commit up to $12.8 million in Measure P and other available funds to finance associated development and maintenance costs. Vice President Maxwell seconded the motion.
ID 22-965 Department of Public Utilities
Department of Public Utilities Director Buche presented a brief overview of the Department of Public Utilities budget for Fiscal Year 2022-2023.
Discussion was held between Council and the administration.
Upon call, the following members of the public addressed Council: Brandi Nuse-Villegas, Lisa Flores, Alan McCuen, and Cynthia Piombino.
REQUEST FOR MORE INFORMATION WAS MADE DURING FIRE
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DEPARTMENT OVERVIEW:
Councilmember Soria requested an actual budget for Beautify Fresno.
Councilmember Arias requested the following information: 1. A list of all the outstanding internal loans, 2. A breakdown of how Measure P money will be used in the department, 3. A legal memo of the impact of the current legal case regarding our future water rights, 4. Information to identify the preferred funding source for a garbage compactor for downtown Fresno, and 5. Is the department paying for employee and/or visitor parking permits, and he would like information on why the fields at the Regional Sports Complex are so dry causing unsafe fields for the community.
Councilmember Chavez requested a list of the eligible drought tolerant lawn replacements.
Vice President Maxwell requested a memo on how much the department funds were allocated towards conservation efforts as well as rebate programs last Fiscal Year compared to the upcoming Fiscal Year.
THE FOLLOWING MOTIONS WERE MADE DURING BUDGET
HEARINGS:
Councilmember Chavez motioned to continue the litter abatement programs, for Blackstone, Kings Canyon and Tower District. Councilmember Arias seconded the motion.
Councilmember Arias motioned to increase the rebates at the same rate that the CPI for the past 12 months. Councilmember Karbassi seconded the motion.
THE FOLLOWING DIRECTIONS WERE MADE DURING DISCUSSION BETWEEN
COUNCIL AND THE ADMINISTRATION
Council Vice President Maxwell requested the quantity and location of bus stops in District 4 that are currently unprotected or do not have a shelter.
Vice President Maxwell requested a memo seeking information on how much Community Development Block Grant section 108 loans the City of City of Fresno ***Subject to Mayoral Veto Page 8
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Fresno is currently borrowing against, the repayment timeline for those, what projects would qualify for a section 108 loan, and how much more money we are able to loan out of that program.
Councilmember Karbassi requested an estimate for one or two monument signs for Pinedale to celebrate their centennial next year and he would like more information on Trails End Mobile Home Park.
Councilmember Bredefeld and Councilmember Karbassi requested information on how much it would cost to purchase a lot and build a playground and green space for children in the neighborhood. The located is off Sierra, between Blackstone and Clark.
Councilmember Arias requested information on the ratio of maintenance staff to parks acreage
Vice President Maxwell requested the generalized maintenance costs, to gain an understanding of how far Council infrastructure funds can go towards addressing constituent infrastructure concerns.
THE FOLLOWING MOTION WAS MADE FOR THE CITY COUNCIL
BUDGET:
Councilmember Chavez motioned to restore $150,000 for Council Support Services. Vice President Maxwell seconded the motion.
City Council recessed the June 13, 2022, Budget Hearings at 6:28 P.M. The next Budget Hearings is scheduled for Tuesday, June 14, 2022.
Tuesday, June 14, 2022 - 9:00 A.M.
ID 22-966 Department of Transportation
ID 22-964 Information Services Department
ID 22-967 Planning and Development Department
ID 22-968 Personnel Services Department
ID 22-969 Public Works Department
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ID 22-970 General Services
Wednesday, June 15, 2022 - 9:00 A.M.
ID 22-971 Economic Development
ID 22-972 Office of the City Clerk / Copy Center
ID 22-973 City Attorney’s Office
ID 22-974 Office of Mayor & City Manager / General City Purpose ID 22-975 City Council Offices
JOINT MEETING OF THE FRESNO REVITALIZATION CORPORATION
AND CITY OF FRESNO IN ITS CAPACITY AS HOUSING SUCCESSOR
TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
ID 22-983 Receive Annual Report and Approve FY 2022-2023 Program Income Budget for the City of Fresno in its capacity as Housing Successor to the Redevelopment Agency of the City of Fresno
Thursday, June 16, 2022 - 9:00 A.M.
ID 22-1016 Continued Budget Hearings
Monday, June 20, 2022 - 9:00 A.M.
ID 22-982 Police Department
ID 22-981 Airports Department (FYI)
Thursday, June 23, 2022 - 9:00 A.M. (Vote on Council Motions will be a part of the regular Council Meeting)
ID 22-984 Vote on Council Motions
Thursday, June 30, 2022 - 9:00 A.M. (Vote on Budget will be a part of the regular Council Meeting)
ID 22-985 Vote on Budget
ADJOURNMENT
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